Battery.



L, BEGELAN.-

l `PATENTED JAN. 13, 1902.

BATTERY. 'APPLIOATION HL'EDAJAN. "1', '1902.

No monnik.

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i PATENTD JAN. 13, 1903. L. BEGEMAN.

BATTERY. APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 7. 1902.

i No. 718,076.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT Ormes.

LOUIS BEGEMAN, OF OEDARFALLS, IOWA.

BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 718,076, dated January 13, 1903. Application filed January '7, 1902. Serial No. 88.753. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

` zen of the United States, residing at Cedarfalls, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Battery, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of voltaic cells of the Lalande type, in which the positive-polef electrode is formed of any suitable metal surrounded or covered by oxid of copper, which acts as a depolarizing agent, the negative-'pole electrode being formed of zinc or otherisuit-` able material and caustic soda or causticvpotash being employed as an exciting agent.

` One of the objects of the invention is to materially reduce the cost of such cells by forniing the insoluble electrode in cylindrical or elliptical shape and employing the same as a receptacle for the exciting fluid.

A further object of the invention is to provde for the bettersupport of the depolarizing agent.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the cell as to enable it to be used,

as a storage battery, the positive-pole elec-` trode being employed as an anode and the cathode being formed by an amalgamated copper cylinder on which the zinc in solution is deposited, the solution being regenerated and the reduced copper absorbing oxygen and returning to a state of oXid.

Further objects and advantages of my in` vention will be apparent from a reading of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a voltaic cell constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail illustratingmore clearly the method of supporting the depolarizing agent. 1, illustrating an amalgamated cathode inserted in place of the soluble electrode when the cell is being regenerated. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of the cathode.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

10 indicates a containing vessel, which may be formed of any suitable metal-'such astin, copper, or iron-and constitutes the insoluble or positive-pole electrode. In "order to increase the area of the electrode, the vessel may be corrugated, the corrugations serving also to better support the depolarizing agent 11, which, as usual, is formed of copper oxid. When the vessel is Vformed of tin or other metal and has soldered seams, the seams are coatedwith a paste formed of'graphite, guttapercha, and paraffin in order to protect them from the action of the electrolyte.

The `Vessel is lined with wire gauze or netting, as indicated at 12, and the copper oxid in the form of a paste is forced through the mesh into contact with the inner surface of thevessel. To prevent disintegrated particles of the oxid from falling to the bottom of the vessel, I employ a shield or cover 13, formed of muslin or some similar material which will not interfere with the passage of the electrolyte, and this material is supported in place by an inner lining 14also formed of wire gauze or netting, the gauze or netting being preferably of elastic metal, which may be sprung into place and render unnecessary any auxiliary fastening devices.

Wherethe positive-pole electrode is formed of iron it is preferably copper-plated in order to lessen the initial internal resistance of the cell.

The negative-pole electrode is formed 0f zinc or other suitable material supported by a cap or cover 1G and provided with a bindingpost 17 of any suitable character. The binding-post 18 of the positive-pole electrode is provided with a threaded end 19, extending through the upper portion of the receptacle and serving to hold the cap or cover in place.

When an exciting fluid, such asa solution of caustic potash or caustic soda, is placed in the cell and the circuit is'established, the zinc is attacked and is dissolved or converted into an oXid, while the oXid of copper is gradually reduced to a metallic state. When this occurs, the cell is exhausted and the oxid must be 'renewed before the cell can be again used.

The bottom of the cell is covered with a layer of copper oxid, as shown in the drawings, or with a coating of cement of the character hereinbefore described. When the cell is to be used as a secondary or storage battery, I prefer to have the bottom covered with cement in order to seal the bottom of the can eectually and prevent any of the oxid of copper from leaking out under the shield.

In order to recover the zinc precipitate and to transform the metallic copper` to a state of oxid, I remove the zinc electrode and place in the solution a cathode of the construction illustrated in Figs. 4. 5, and 6. The cathode comprises a copper body k18, preferably of cylindrical form and provided with one or more terminals 19 for connection to a suitable binding-post. The copper cylinder is surrounded by brass or copper gauze 2O of fine mesh, and the Whole is thoroughly amalgamated with mercury. On the passage of a current from the positive-pole element, which now forms the anode, to the copper cathode the zinc in the solution is deposited on the said cathode and is held by the fine gauze, the gauze forming a much better supporting-surface than would the solid zinc electrode. The anode Will absorb oxygen and will be reduced or returned to a state of oxid, the solution being cleared or regenerated and again in condition to receive the zinc electrode and set up a current from the chemical reaction which takes place When the charging-current is cut olf. In some cases this cathode may be retained in the cell and used as the soluble electrode until the deposited zinc has been dissolved or precipitated; but usually I prefer to employ the usual zinc electrode.

While the construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that many changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An electric battery comprising in combination, a containing vessel adapted to form the positive-pole electrode, a depolarizing agent forming a lining for said cell, a lining of Wire gauze or netting in the interstices or meshes 0f which said depolarizing agent is partially embedded and supported, a protecting-shield covering said gauze or netting, and a negative-pole electrode situated Within said vessel. A

2. The combination in an electric battery, of the containing vessel forming an electrode, Wire gauze or netting arranged within said vessel and forming a support for a copperoxid depolarizing agent, a protecting-shield covering said gauze or netting, and an elastic sheet of gauze or netting adapted to support said shield.

3. The combination in an electric battery, of the containing vessel formed of metal and having a protective lining for its seams or joints, an inner lining of Wire gauze or netting and a copper-oxid depolarizing agent supported thereby.

4. The combination in an electric battery, of the corrugated metallic vessel forming one element of the battery, an inner lining of Wire gauze or netting, and a copper-oxid depolarizing agent supported by said Wire gauze or netting and by the corrugations of the vessel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS BEGEMAN.

Witnessesz' S. FREEMAN HERsEY, STEPHEN A. BATES. 

